Telehealth vs Going to the GP: What’s Right for You?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has become a mainstream healthcare option in Australia. But when should you use telehealth versus visiting your local GP in person? Here’s an honest comparison.
When Telehealth Is the Better Choice
Convenience and Access
- You need a doctor after hours, on weekends, or on public holidays
- You live in a rural or remote area with limited GP access
- You’re travelling and need medical advice
- You have mobility issues or caring responsibilities that make travel difficult
Conditions Well-Suited to Telehealth
- Cold and flu symptoms
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin rashes and conditions (shown via camera)
- Mental health consultations
- Prescription renewals and repeat medications
- Medical certificates
- Sexual health consultations
- Chronic condition management and check-ins
Time Savings
The average waiting room time at an Australian GP clinic is 20–40 minutes. With MyGPonline, you can typically see a doctor within minutes of booking, from wherever you are.
When You Should See a GP In Person
Some situations benefit from a hands-on examination:
- Physical examinations (e.g., listening to lungs, checking joints)
- Procedures like wound care, injections, or skin checks
- Immunisations and vaccinations
- Complex chronic disease management requiring physical assessment
- Pregnancy care requiring physical examination
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely — and many Australians do. A growing number of patients use telehealth for convenience (prescriptions, certificates, simple consultations) while maintaining a relationship with their regular GP for comprehensive care. This hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds.
MyGPOnline is unusually well placed to give this advice honestly: we’re the telehealth arm of Family Doctor, Australia’s largest 100% GP-owned medical group, which runs more than 100 physical clinics. We genuinely don’t mind which door you walk through — when telehealth is right, it’s $19–$45 for most services (certificates $19, eScripts $39, consultations $45, private, no Medicare card needed); when in-person is right, you can book a clinic near you, including 47 clinics open Saturday and 11 open late on weeknights.
What does each option cost?
An in-person GP visit at a clinic may cost you nothing out of pocket under Medicare, depending on your eligibility and the clinic’s billing arrangements — see which Family Doctor clinics offer no-cost visits for Medicare card holders. MyGPOnline telehealth is private with flat fees and no Medicare requirement — which is exactly why it can see anyone, anytime, without a regular-GP relationship. Neither is universally cheaper: an in-person visit under Medicare wins on price if you can get an appointment; telehealth wins on speed, hours and access.
The Verdict
Telehealth isn’t replacing in-person care — it’s complementing it. For straightforward consultations, follow-ups, and prescriptions, telehealth saves you time and provides immediate access to qualified Australian doctors. And because our GPs work within a group that runs real clinics, they’ll tell you plainly when your situation needs hands-on care — a telehealth service should never be a dead end.
This service is not for emergencies — in a medical emergency call 000. Reviewed by the Family Doctor clinical team. Last updated 18 July 2026.
